CRM fines firm $10K for non-compliance

The Coastal Resources Management Office ordered New Saipan Development, Inc. to pay $10,000 for various violations and non-compliance of several notices from the environmental agency.

CRM director Jack Salas said the agency reviewed the enforcement history of the company and found out that the CRM had been very lenient with the firm in addressing the numerous warning notices and notice of violations to the group.

“In almost every instance, CRM has reduced the fines imposed on you and has tried to accommodate your requests in paying these fines,” Salas said in his letter to the company. He said the company has repeatedly conducted activities that are not in compliance with CRM rules and regulations.

Salas also ordered New Saipan Development to cease all construction activities, and further negligence to this order would mean more fines to be imposed on the company.

The CRM issued a warning notice to the company in July to halt the construction within the company’s barracks compound because there was no permit obtained from the CRM for an extension of the construction. In August, Salas said the agency held a follow up inspection at the construction site and learned that the construction was not stopped at all.

Salas said he even visited the site in the same month but the firm continued to ignore the warning notices given to the company. He said the CRM also learned from the Division of Environmental Quality that the New Saipan Development also failed to obtain permit for earthmoving and erosion control. The company also failed to consult the Department of Public Works on whether a building code permit was granted, and both DPW and CRM have no record of issuing their permits for the extension of the construction project.

The CRM director said this is not the first time the company was cited for such violations. “After reviewing the history of violations we have on record with your company, it appears that New Saipan Development is not concerned in obtaining proper permits first prior to commencing projects and CRM will not tolerate these types of conduct,” he said.

The history of violations of the company includes: construction of barracks for up to 250 people without a permit and debris from the construction were disposed into a wetland in 1996; construction of four building complexes without satisfying permit conditions in 1998; improper disposal of trash and construction debris into the adjacent wetland in 2000; construction of a five-unit staff housing without permit amendment also in 2000; non-compliance with the “Order of Administrator” in 2001; construction of a nine-unit staff housing without permit amendment; and, storm water being diverted into the wet well and then pumped into the CUC sewer system.